Gas burner



H. 'c. CALDWELL Ap i1 27, 1926.

GAS BURNER Filed May 19 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 tot April 27, 1926. I

H. C. CALDWELL GAS BURNER Filed y -19 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awvenbozHenra C. Cadwe Patented Apr. 27, was.

HENRY o. CALDWELL,

a'rer OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FFi E.

GAS BURNER.

Application filed May 19, 1924. Serial No. 714,313.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, HENRY G. CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie .and State of New York,have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Gas Burners, 01.which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide improved meansfor burning gas. My invention may advantageously be employed in gasburners used for various purposes, as in heaters, drying and bakingovens, and the like, but was primarily devised, and is especiallyadapted for use in a gas range or cooking stove and particularly in gasranges of the type used in hotel kitchens, and the invention consists inpart in a novel combination of the burner proper with other parts of agas range.

At the present time there are two types of gas burning ranges in commonuse, namely: the open top type and the closed top type. In the open toprange the gas flames contact directly with the kettle, pot, or otherobject to be heated, and the products of combustion escape directly intothe atmosphere, while in the closed top range the gas is burned in anenclosure from which the products of combustion are withdr wn ordinarily'by connection to a chimney and through the wall of which the heattransmitted to the object heated must be conducted. It is a matter ofcommon knowledge and experience that the heat of combustion is moreveffectively utilized in the open top type of range than in the closedtop type, and primarily for this reason the open top type of range is inmuch more general use than the closed top type stove though theobjections to discharging the products of combustion directly into theatmosphere are well recognized, and it is also known that in the closedtop type of range it is possible to obtain a better regulation ofcombustion, and to obtain higher combustion temperatures than ispossible with the ordinary open type burner.-

.My present invention was devised with the general object 'in view ofobtaining characteristic advantages of both the open type and closedtype burners while at the same time avoiding or minimizingcharacteristic disadvantages of both of these prior types of burners.The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of thisspecification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, its advantages and specific objects obtained with it, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a range top;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line '22 of Fig. 8; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the range top shown in Fig. 1 withparts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a small scale plan of a portion of the range top;

Fig. 4 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1 with a portion ofthe gas supply provisions removed; and

Fig. 5 is section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention in connection with acooking range of the type employed in hotel kitchens. The range top asshown, is formed of one or more sections, each of which comprises a castiron pan-like member A, shown as generally rectangular in cross section,with a burner located in the front portion of the pan, and with the rearportion of the pan covered by a warming plate F. The burner proper inthe form shown comprises a plurality of channels located adjacent thebottom of the member A, and each receiving gas for its combustionthrough a corresponding port a in the member A. ,T he air and gasmixture passes from the inner end of each channel a into a correspondingchannel 6, which delivers the mixture to a corresponding verticalchannel 0 which opens at its upper end into a combustion chamber orchambers (Z from which the burning gases and products of combustion passdownward through ports 6 into an annular oil-take channel (2 having anoutlet 6 at its rear side opening into the chamber ,7 which is closed atits top by the warming plate F. The chamber f opens through a port finto a flue 9 having an outlet port g which may be damper controlled,and through which connection is made to a stack or chimney (not shown).

In the particular construction shown, the channels (a are in the form ofa row 0t parallel grooves formed in the under side of a metallic memberB, the grooves a being closed at their lower ends by the bottom wall ofmember A. The bod portions of the channels Z) are in the form grooves orchannels in the upper side oi the member 15, the upper edges of thechannels Z) being closed by a metallic member C detachablv securedagainst the member B. The channels c are formed in part by verticalpassages in a metallic member C and registering vertical passagesthrough a disk-like brick or like refractory bocj: Ci resting on themember C. The channels 0 are ar tinged in a circular series about thevertical axis of the burner, and the channels Z are suitabl v curved toconnect each channel 0 to the corresponding channel (l. the width of thegroup of channels (4 being suli stantially greater than the diameter ofthe circle in which the channels 0 are arranged. Preterablv. thechannels a are all of equal length and cross section, and preferablythis is the case also with the channels 7) and the channels 6.Furthermore, the bends in each flow path "formed b v a channel 7 and thechan nels a and 0 connected to its ends are all so relatively shaped anddisposed so that each of these flow paths offers practically the sameresistance to flow therethrough as does each of the other flow paths..ln consequence, with any given gas sugpl pressure the same amounts ofwill flow through the various channels a and the channels Z) and 0connected thereto provided the suction effect is the same at thedischarge ends of the various channels 0. This uniform suction effect issecured notwithstanding the decreased draft suction at the ports (2 moreremote from the outlet 6 of the chamber a as compared with the suctionon the ports 6 less remote from the outlet by making the ports 6 ofasize varying in inverse correspondence with the draft suction to whichthey are subjected. This mode of regulating the flow resistance from thevarious as inlet ports a to the outlet port 6 so as to secure uniformflow through the various channels a and thence into the combustionchamber through the channels 0, is advantageous because of thecomparative ease with which the ports 6 can be reamed when necessary tomake them of the proper relative sizes.

The walls of the chamber 0 are termed b v a hollow annular member E ofcast iron provided with radial lugs E at its under side which rest uponthe pan lugs A, and is formed at its upper side with radially disposedribs or lugs E which in effect divide the combustion chamber 1/ into aplurality of separate compartments each receiving the combustiblemixture .t'ronz one or more pass sages c and each passing products ofcombustion through a plurality of ports o into the chamber 6. The memberl) is torzuczl with a spout-like extension ll" at its rear side which"forms the wall of the port c l-iounted on the top oi the rei'ractoi vmember C a flame spreader and heat equalizing member Cl advanta rcouslformed of cast iron or other suitabh, refractorv metal and circular inhorizontal cm s section and 0; general conica form with its diameterincreasing li'Uill bottom to top in such manner as to form a smoothcurved flame deflecting and guiding surface for deflecting thecombustible HIlNlUYr! horizontally into the (Ol'llJliHiiOil chamber. isshown. the upper end oi the member (ll engages the inner ends oi someol' the ribs: E on the member lQ. As shown. the top of the combustionchamber is closed b v a lid l removablv seated in an aperture in therange top cover 33. and formed with a ccutral opening surrounding themember (ll and slotted to receive the upper ends ot the ribs E The lidmember I ma be stitl'ened and its heat absorbing capacity is increased bv integral radially extending ribs I on its under side. Advantagcouslv.as shown. the member E is in effect embedded in retractorv cement oranalogous h :at iusulatinc; material H which lills all portions in thepan A. not occupied b v the solid parts and channels or passagespreviously described. its shown, the leat insulatima material H isshaped to give the bottom wall of the passage 7 the l'orin of a flatcone. and the under side of the metallic warming plate F formed withintegral ribs or lingers which exteni'l down into the space 7 andincrease the heat absorption b v the plate F.

The means provided for supplying ear: to the channels a through the.ports 11 comprise discharge nozzles K. one co-arial with each of theports 0 and Rparatcd from the outer end thereof b v a short distance sothat the gas jet discharged b v the nozzle will carry with it into thecorresponding port a the proper amount of primar air drawn from theatmosphere. The nozzles K form a. part of a gas supply mechanismadvantageously secured to the range top member A as b v means ofbrat-ken; li secured to the. ends of a plate-like portion R of a valvebody or casing member l1 formed with a conical valve chamber in which ismounted a hollow rotatable valve member S of conical form. The valvemember S is formed with an inlet port through which gas passes to theinterior ot the valve member S from the inlet port ll of the valvecasing member It.

The valve I member S is formed with a plurality of outlet port-s S S Sand S distributed along the length of the valve member and. each adaptedtobe brought into register with a corresponding outlet port lib R a andR formed in the casing member and opening at the side of the plateportion 1% of the casing body adjacent the range top. [is shown, thevalve outlet ports S S S and S are in the form of a series of arc-shapedslots of progressively increasinglength so that, as the valve S isrotated in successive steps from its closed position, gas will first bedischarged through the ports S and R and then through the ports S B andS, R, and thenthrough the ports S B 8*, It, and S, R, and finallythrough all of the ports S B S, R S", R S, and It. The ports in thechannels of the valve mechanism serve the purpose of measuring 'orificesand may advantageously be. so sized that each of the ports RiItfl'R- andR will discharge the same amount of gas when all are open, and as thevalve is progressively opened, it will pass first one-quarter, thenone-half and then three-quarters of the full amount of gas dischargedwhen the valve is in the position in which it permits the discharge ofgas through all of the. and It. secured against the plate portion R ofthe valve member is a central distributing plate M formed at its outerside with longitudinal channels N, O, P, and Q, into which the ports R RR and B respectively, open. Ports Q extending through the plate, memberM and open at their front ends to the channel (,2, open at their rearends to corresponding passages or ports L in a plate-like member Lsecured against the rear side of the mem ber M and formed with a seriesof ports L in the outer end of each of which is mounted acorrespondinggas nozzle K. As shown, theports L in alignment with the first, fifthand ninth of the channels a, measured from the top as seen in. Fig. 3,communicate with the channel Q through ports Q, in the member M. ,T'heports L in alignment with the second, sixth and tenth channels a,measuredfrom the top of Fig. 3, communicate through transverse channelsN in the rear face of the member M and ports N extending through themember M withthe channel N. Similarly, the ports L in alignment with thethird, seventh and eleventh channels a, measured from the top. of Fig.8, communicate .through transverse channels P, P in the rear side of themember M and ports P with the channel P, and the remaining ports Lcommunicate through transverse channels Oin the front face of the memberM and ports 0 with the channel 0. With the described arrangement in onesetting of the valve member S, only three of the channels a are suppliedwith gas, and it will be observed that these three channels open to thecombustion chamber (Z at points approximately equally spaced about theaxis of the burner. In the second setting of the valve S, gas issupplied to three or more of the channels'a which open to the combustionchamber (Z at points between, those at which the first mentionedchannels a open. Similarly, as the valve is adjusted to supply firstthree-quarters and then the full amount of the maximum capacity, all thegas supplied with either adjustment is distributed with substantialuniformity about the axis of the burner. i

As shown, gas is supplied to the inlet port R of the distributing valvethrough an individual supply pipe T, including a cock T by which the gassupply to the distributing valve may be out off or throttled. It will beunderstood that if the range cornprises a plurality of top sections Aand burners, the supply valves T for the dilferent burners may beconnected in the usual manner to a suitable main gas supply pipe for therange. The valve S is provided with a suitable handle S by which it maybe adjusted, and advantageously this handle is provided with a springpressed detent S or the like, adapted to seat in sockets R formed in thevalve body R in position to yieldingly maintain the proper setting ofthe valve S in its different closed positions.

lVith the described construction, it is possible to regulate the supplyof combustible gas and air to each section of the combustion chamber (Zreceiving combustible mixture from .a single passage 0, so as to insurea short flame and relatively high flame velocity at the outlet end ofeach channel 0, thus insuring a very high rate of heat transfer from thecombustion chamber to a pot or kettle on the top of the stove throughthe heat absorbing and equalizing member CB, the ribs E and the plate Iif the latter be used, and, if it be omitted, directlyfrom thecombustion chamber. With the character of combustion thus provided andwith the metallic burner parts arranged and insulated by the material H,as described, a high temperature in the combustion chamber ismaintained, thus insuring efficient combustion and a large transfer ofheat by radiation, as well as conduction from the bottom walls of thecombustion chamber and other parts of the burner structure relativelyremote from the upper surface. Ignition occurs and combustion iscompleted in close proximity to the object to be heated and this resultis secured as well when the quantity of gas being burned is small aswell as when the burner is operating at maximum capacity. The largeamount of hot metallic surface in direct contact with the flame insuresa rapid absorption of heatby contact with an d conduction from theburning gases as well as by radiation from the latter, and, when thereis no object in position to absorb this heat by conduction, the heat islargely stored in the metallic burner parts, which then gradually incrase in temperature. The products of coml ustion are all drawn into thestack or chimney B. By means of a suitable chimney damper or the like(not shown), it is easy to regulate the chimney suction at the outletport from the flue g, as may be desirable. The normal operation of theburner with varying rates of combustion does not require any adjustmentof" the air to gas ratio by the operator, thus avoidingthemaladjustments frequently resulting, when such adjustments are requiredor may readily be made by the operator. The continuous stack-pull on theburner contributes to uniform flame jet velocity and perfect ignitionunder varying: conditions of load. There is small possibility of theflame being e: ;ting uished by side dratts both because of therelatively high flame jet velocity as well as by the protection againstdrafts due to extraneous causes. The provision of a multiplicity otcombustible mixture supply channels (A and their continuations 7), and(3, permits each of these channels to be madesmall enough to insure anefiective mixture of the air and gas and to minimize or eliminatetendency to back-tiring, and large enough to avoid unduly great frictiondra'l't losse or accidental clogging. The available heat in the productsof combustion leaving the chamber a may be effectively utilized by thewarming top plate F. The foregoing advantages are obtained, moreover,with a construction which is inherently simple and me readily be adaptedto use in cooking: ranges of dil ferent types, as well as in dryingovens, bakingovens, heating stoves. etc. The described constructionfacilitates the manufacture of the apparatus from cast metal parts whichis relatively simple in term and well adapted for their production bycasting and with a minimum of machining.

ll'hile in accordance with the provisions of the statutes. I haveillustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my inventionnow known to me, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in the form of the apparatus dislosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appendedclaims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may beused to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

lVhile for convenience I refer herein and in the claims to the burnerstructure and the location of the combustion chamber (Z above the outletchamber 6, as will ordinarily be LilU arrangement in the case of a rangeto v burner, it is to be Understood that such references are made forconvenience to fix the relative disposition of the parts. The burnershown would operate eouallv well it turned upside down, or with theburner axis horizontal, or otherwise inclined to the vertical, whenconditions make this'desi able.

Having now described my invention. what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gas burner. the combination with an annular combustion chamberol means for supplying gas to said chamber at its inner edge, ano'll-tal-ze chamber beneath the combustion chamber and ports openingthrough the bottom wall of the combustion chamber connecting the latterto said oiltake chamber.

in a burner. the cou'ibinalion with an annular combustion chamber ofmeans tor supplying gas and air tor the combustion oi the in saidchamber at its inner edge, an (lit-take chamber b month the combustionchamber and ports opening through the bottom wall o the combustionchamber and connecting the latter to said oil-take chamher.

3. In a gas burner. the combination with an annular combustion chamber01'' means tor supplyi gas to said chamber at disi'ih. ted points aroundits inner edge. an oil-take chamber beneath the,

combustion chamber and ports opening Ihroaah the bottom wall o'l theombustion chamber connecting the. latter to said outlet hamber. saidoutlet chamber havingan outlet port adapted to be connected to a draftinducinc device.

In a burner, the improvement which cons-nts in an annular combustionchamber. channels supplying gas to said combustion chamber at pointsdistributed around the inner edge of the latter, an annular oil-takechamber beneath the combustion chamber and ports distributed alon; thebottom wall of the combustion chamber connecting; the latter to saidoft-take chamber, and supply means selectively adjustable to supply toall or a predetermined munber of said channels.

5. In a gas burner. the im u'ovement which consis in an annularcombustion chamber, ehai'mels supplying gas to said combustion chamberat distributed points. an ol'l take ch tuber beneath the combustionchamber. ports distributed along" the bottom wall of the combustionchamber connecting the latter to said oil-take chamber. and meansselectively adjustable to supply gas and air for its combustion to allor a predetermined number or" said channels.

6. In a range top. the combination with a hollow oil-take member havingdistributed openings in its top wall, ot' means co-operating therewithto define a combustion chamchamber at the inner edge of the latter.

" parts being shaped to provide an annular- 7. In a range top, thecombination with a hollow off-take member having radially andcircumferentially distributed openings in its top wall, of meansco-operating therewith to define a v combustion chamber above saidmember, and provisions for supplying combustible gas to said combustionchamber.

8. In a range top,-the combination with an annular off-take memberhaving distributed 7 ports formed in its top wall, of a body centrallydisposed with respect to and passing through said off-take member andhaving its upper end shaped to .form an outwardly flared gas deflectingsurface and formed with gas channels opening at their upper ends to thespace which surrounds said central body portion and is located above thetop wall of said off-take member.

9. An improved gas burner construction comprising a central bodydefining the inner edge of an annular combustion chamber and formed withgas supply channels opening to said combustion chamber at points distributed around the inner edge of the latter, an off-take chambersurrounding said member and located beneath said combustion chamher, anda ported wall between said chambers.

10. An improved heating device, comprising a pan-like metallicsupporting part and metallic burner parts mounted therein, said partsbeing shaped to provide an annular combustion chamber, a central bodyformed with a circular series of vertically dlsposed gas supply channelsopening at thelr upper ends to said chamber, a horizontal series of gassupply channels separately connected each to a corresponding one of thefirst mentioned channels, and an ofi -take chamber surrounding saidcentral body beneath said combustion chamber and separated from thelatter by a ported wall.

11. An improved gas burner comprising a pan-like metallic supportingpart and metallic burner parts mounted therein, said combustion chamber,a central body formed with a circular series of vertically dispose-d gassupply channels opening at their upper ends'to said chamber, ahorizontal series of gas supply channels separately connected each to acorresponding one of the first mentioned channels,and an off-takechamber surrounding said central body beneath said combustion chamberand separated from the latter by a ported wall, and refractory ma terialin which said burner parts are embedded.

12. An improved gas burner comprising a multiplicity of gas supplychannels hav ing open upper ends arranged at intervals in a circlesurrounding the burner axis and gas supply channels horizontallydisposed and arranged side by side and communlcatfirst channels, anannular combustion chamber to which the first mention-ed channels mgeach with a corresponding one of the open, and off-take chamber beneaththe combustion chamber and separated therefrom by a ported horizontalwall.

13. A gas burner comprising a combustion chamber, a multiplicity of gassupply channels opening to said combustion chamber at distributed pointstherein, means for separately controlling the supply of gas to differentgroups of said channels, the chan nels in one of such groups opening tosaid chamber at points alternating with the points in which the channelsin other groups open to the chamber.

14. A gas burner comprising an off-take chamber, with a gas outlet atone side of the burner axis, a combustion chamber connected to saidoff-take chamber by ports distributed about said axis, and amultiplicity of gas supply channels opening to said combustion chamberat points distributed about said axis, said parts and elements formingpaths so relatively proportioned that such of those paths which open tosaid off-take chamber at points remote from said outlet offer lessresistance to gas flow therethrough than do the paths opening to saidchamber nearer to said outlet.

15. A gas burner comprising an ofiltake chamber and means forWithdrawing burned gases from said chamber, tending to withdraw suchgases more rapidly from one side than from an opposite side of saidchamber, a combustion chamber, ports connecting said chambers atdistributed points which are. smaller at said one side of the oif-takechamber than at the opposite side of that chamber, and 'a multiplicityof gas supply channels opening to said combustion chamber at distributedpoints therein and relatively proportioned and arranged to offersubstantially uniform resistance of gas flow therethrough.

16. In a range top, the combination with a hollow circular off-takemember formed of metal and having radial ribs on its upper surface ofmeans cooperating therewith to define an annular combustion chamberabove said member and means for supplying combustible gas to saidcombustion chamber at points distributed about its inner edge.

17. In a range top, an off-take chamber having heat insulating materialat its un der and outer side, a ported top wall of metal, meanscooperating with said top wall to define a combustion chamber above saidoff-take chamber and means for sup Jlying air and gas to said combustioncham er at distributed points therein to effect short intense flamecombustion therein.

18. In a range top, an off-take chamber having heat insulating materialat its under and outer side a ported top wall of supplying air and gasto said combustion metal, means cooperating with said top wall chm-m1 erat distributed points therein to etto define a combustion chamber abovesaid feet shortintense flame combustion therein. 10 off-take chamberWith metallic parts dis- Signed at Buffalo in the county of Erietributed through said combustion chamber and State of New York this 13day of May for supporting and conducting heat to an A. D. 192%.

object supported thereon, and means for HENRY C. CALDXVELL.

